Federer, who has been "Time" as part of the Davis Cup Switzerland-Portugal, traces its unique path in hindsight and insight of a sage

Sometimes smiling and relaxed. The company of his friends found youth wakes up her little mischievous air. Roger Federer takes place in one of the rooms of the imposing Hotel Bellevue, which houses the team from Switzerland to the Davis Cup tie against Portugal. It feels open and receptive Basel. An interview face to face with the man to the sixteen Grand Slam titles is a rare commodity. The culmination of months of waiting and patience. One moment that deserves and enjoys ...

Time: If tomorrow you play against Roger Federer, what do you think?

Roger Federer: My first reaction is to tell me that it would be interesting to discover its weaknesses and strengths, to see if they match what I imagine. In fact, I ever wondered what it would play against myself. Especially when I found myself facing an opponent whose game seems similar to mine.

- Mentally, is it a shock?

- Yes. Playing against someone who has already accomplished much as Nadal, Sampras and Agassi is always a moment apart. This is different than face a player who never won a tournament or just a few. Play a game against someone with proven something for so long has always a special flavor. I do not want to appear to me to throw flowers, but it's been ten years since I beat Sampras at Wimbledon, I'm still here and have not left the top 10 for eight or nine years.

- Imagine you're a great leader and you are asked a particularly refined dish, the clone of Roger Federer. What would be your recipe?

- I do not cook at all, it's terrible. One of my worst points. We can not even speak of weakness so it is nothing (laughs). To my clone, I do not know, I would put a mixture of concentration and relaxation. Seen and off the court, I am very relaxed. Professionalism and commitment to family and friends. This is a bit of my life. This gives a fairly balanced dish at all levels. The balance, I need it to succeed.

- You say you were a diamond in the rough that had to be cut. So there is also the talent ...

- Yes indeed. If I compare to Roddick, who had the service for a weapon or that Hewitt and Ferrero, very young, had the mental and physical strength, I was not all that. I had an extraordinary talent with an arm very fast, but I had to work hard to exploit it. Because without the physical and mental, honestly, the talent is not used much. Whereas if you work out these two points, it can become immense. That's what I managed to do. I am proud of not abusing my talent. I'm always a little sad when I see super talented young players who do not make the effort to take advantage. It's a shame.

- In French, we say "being born under a lucky star." The stars, it speaks to you? Do you ever happen to read your horoscope?

- Rarely. While I believe a little bit to the notion of sign. Rod Laver, Pete Sampras and I are all three Lions. I do not mean that we are born under a lucky star, but a little bit anyway. Lions love to be the center of attention while enjoying to escape when they also agree. It can help in tennis. Although I am aware that it does not always work.

- You're Lion, August 8, you will have 30 years. What is the age of reason, maturity?

- At 20, I thought it was the best age. And now I tell myself that 30 years is the best age. You're more mature, you're not the guy who was just emerging from adolescence, a period during which explosive enough you're like a sponge, you learn many things and store lots of information. Twenty years is an age when you discover who your real friends, your family is, what is your identity. At 30, you already know all that. You know where you are and you are calmer. I'm feeling good and having 30 years causes me no problem. On the contrary. And I think that even at age 70, I would say the same thing, I'm glad that age. Aging does not scare me. I see this as a positive process. I find it nice to move forward and the idea of ​​living things.

- During the past decade, you have experienced some amazing things ...

- Yes, sometimes (smiles).

- Do you feel you have changed?

- Change ... I will not say it is a negative concept because it has helped Obama build his campaign. But in my case, I prefer the word adaptation. Maybe I changed a few things but I especially adapted to my new status, to becoming a star. I learned to handle it. At 20, walking on red carpets in a suit and tie is not nice, you're not used. After you learn, you mature and it is going much better. It may sound weird, but my results, I became more confident in general. At first instance, I had trouble talking to girls. Then, gradually, I began not to squat in my corner. Not that I felt more beautiful than before, but I thought I had proved things and that I could afford to have more confidence in myself. I said, but I always kept my hand open, spontaneous and fun. I also learned to face the media. At first I was quite suspicious. I thought that journalists would write this anyway they wanted. Unfortunately the image that the media, as some actually distort reality. There was for me a form of taming the press. Journalists do not know me and tried to capture who I am. It was not always easy. I felt like I have to repeat myself. Understanding, for example, that my name "Rodger" rather than "Roger", my favorite color is red and not blue. It was a struggle but the message ended up spending quite clear. Today, it's going well and I am relieved not to have these conflicting reports.

- It is written a lot about you. What is the compliment you the most affected and the criticism hurt you the most?

- In retrospect, everything and nothing. Of course it makes me happy when I win and everyone says that I am the best. It breeds confidence. You say that the sacrifices have paid not only on the field but also outside. It's not that you have really needed that, but it helps to know that you're on the right track and that it appeals to people. For, without necessarily compare to a short drama, we are still a bit on stage to try to please the public. Play it for yourself. So read or hear that you have entertained in your game is nice. Critique the worst living? After my defeat in the first round of Roland Garros in 2003. I had already lost the first round last year and people wondered if Federer was not one of those talents who could never break through. This is where, for the first time, I have not read a single article before Wimbledon. It was at that time as a former player said I had a bad slice, so I felt it was the surest shot in my game It made me destabilized so I decided not to pay attention to what was said. And after I won my first Wimbledon in 2003. This is like a huge turn of events. The rest is history. It's amazing the extent I was really right in doubt after the 2003 Roland Garros.

- After that, you know this period almost supernatural. Do not you pay now having people accustomed to victory?

- When you play for ten years, you can not always remain the same. Especially in tennis, where the classification is particularly volatile and severe. If, for example, Rafa can not play the U.S. Open and the other [note: Novak Djokovic] wins, it makes a 3500 on points difference. After, people will say that Nadal does not know tennis. This rating system is the door open to interpretation media without necessarily analysis. In golf, for example, they have a system of two years. Tiger Woods remained the world leader over 400 weeks, but we never talk about the rankings. So, there are fewer articles on the fact that a particular player is suddenly worse. However, it must accept criticism and be open. As it is justified.

- Do you get used to the victory?

- Yes. During the phases where I won all the time, when I happened to lose, I was a little confused. I did not know how to play. I did not used to being led, while I was taking bad decisions. I wondered if I had to do something special if I had to take risks. And I think it was my strength in recent years come to find solutions, stay calm and know what path to follow to get there anyway. For many years I have hardly had any matches in five sets. In 2005, I played the final sixteen of seventeen tournaments. There are reflexes that you forget.

- You have inspired a French philosopher, author of a book about you and your game Does this surprise you?

- Yes, it's surprising, but it shows again how sport can elicit strong emotions, rob people or make them sad. It is rewarding for those who do and those who see it. That's why I wish my daughters to do sports. You learn to win but to lose. However, it is essential to know in life manage to defeat and keep moving forward. There is also an important social dimension. In short, it's healthy. I find it interesting that it inspires a philosopher. It makes me want to read this book.

- It seems that, at night, watching sports on television to no time ...

- It's true. I was in Shanghai during the famous match between Turkey and Switzerland. I managed to find a channel broadcasting on and I had looked up to four hours in the morning '. Fortunately, I was already qualified for the semifinals. With Alinghi as well. In the final of 2003 in New Zealand, I was in Rotterdam and I stayed glued to watching the races until the early hours. I also watch the Super Bowl, the NFL. The suspense in sport is something extraordinary.

- Does fatherhood changed your outlook on the world, given that as a parent you tend to project themselves?

- Absolutely. It is important to look ahead. For now, since they do not remember what they are, above all we try to give them lots of love knowing that they at least keep in mind our presence, our hugs and our kisses. The next step is to educate them, they make a part, everyone in need of limits. I'll try to do my best, although I am aware that this is a challenge and it will be difficult. The idea is that they are educated in Switzerland, but I want to continue traveling with them, they discover what the world, they are open and aware of the opportunity they have.